S. A Haidri,
BIRMINGHAM : Thousands of Pakistanis and Kashmiris settled in United Kingdom (UK) staged a protest rally against continous siege and curfew in Indian Occupied Kashmir ( IOK) on Friday.
Besides the Pakistanis and Kashmiris some other foreign contries citizens living in UK joined the protest to express solidarity with the people of IOK.
The protesters while carrying the flags of Pakistan and Kashmir shouted full throat slogans against Indian government like ” stop human rights violations in IOK” and ” lift curfew in IOK”.
While addressing the protesters Labour Party Deputy leader and Member British Parliament MP Tom Watson said that
Labour Movement stands with the oppressed people of IOK
and we demand that British Foreign Secretary must intervene immediately to ensure the uplift of communication black out, provision of food, water and healthcare services in IOK.
Liam Byrne MP said that Kashmiris struggle is genuine and they must be given right of self-determination as per United Nations UN resolutions.
“Kashmir is both political and humanitarian issue and we should settle it to save the humanity without any further delay”, he stated.
Shabana Mahmood MP said that world should come forward to restore basic necessaties for Kashmiris in IOK who are facing acute shortage of medicines and life saving drugs, “whole region of IOK is under siege since August 05” she added.
Jack Dromey MP said while addressing the protesters that Kashmiris must be given their rights as per world commitment made by them with Kashmiris on the different global forums.
Jack asserted that Kashmiris human rights must be protected and their siege ought to be lifted immediately.
“We should settle Kashmir dispute on humanitarian basis to ensure permanent peace and security in South Asia” jack said.
The MEP Phil Bennion said that they will raise the issue in European Parliament to end the sufferings of IOK people urging the Indian goverment to settle the dispute as per the wishes of Kashmiris on priority basis.
President Tehreek-e-Kashmir TeK UK,
Raja Fahim Kayani said that the silence of world powers over the killings of innocent Kashmiris is a crime against humanity saying the people of IOK look towards the mother of all democracies UK , for the implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir granting the right to self-determination.
Ranjit Singh Serai World Sikh Parliament and Senior Councillors Ian Ward, Waseem Zaffar, Robert Alden , Sharon Thompson and Muhammad Yaseen said while addressing the protesters said that it is time for the world to come forward for the crying humanity and dying children in IOK who have no access to milk and food since August 5 siege and curfew imposed by Indian goverment after slashing the autonomy of IOK.
They unanimoulsy demanded the urgent intervention of the international community whilst expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir.
Later Raja Amjad Khan and Qamar Abbas President TeK Birmingham Branch led the protesters who marched from the Birmingham City Centre to the Indian Consulate . The march led by Khan and Abbas was full of women and children participation and attracted hundreds of non Kashmiris living in Bringham who also marched in solidarity and expressed disgust towards the Indian Government’s actions which have led to a humanitarian crisis in IOK.
